New driving licence restrictions have come into effect, banning young people from carrying certain passengers at night and restricting when learner drivers can take a test.

The changes, which have been launched in Northern Ireland , are aimed at reducing fatal road crashes involving young people.

According to official figures, 17- to 23-year-old drivers were responsible for almost a quarter of all collisions in Northern Ireland in 2024. That is despite them only accounting for 8 per cent of licence holders.

Data also shows that 251 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving a young driver in 2024.…